Bluffton and Beaufort County officials urged the county’s Capital Projects Sales Tax Commission on Monday to include a realignment of Bluffton Parkway in a proposed 1-percent sales tax referendum in November.

The commission heard nearly 30 proposals from town and county leaders during its second public hearing at the Bluffton Library. The six-member panel is charged with reviewing capital projects to include in a potential 1-percent sales tax referendum for voters to decide on — and determining if a referendum can feasibly be held this year.

But while all of the items were considered high priorities, Bluffton Mayor Lisa Sulka and county administrator Gary Kubic agreed the completion of Bluffton Parkway Phase 5B would be a key, multi-faceted asset to the southern portion of the county. The proposed $28 million project would realign a 2.5-mile stretch of the parkway, creating a more direct path for travelers between Buck Island Road and S.C. 170.

The realignment would open up key areas for targeted commercial growth and could eventually be part of a connection to Interstate 95 that would free up traffic congestion and serve as an alternative hurricane evacuation route to U.S. 278.

“If we can have that straight pathway, it’s going to open up a world of opportunities and really be an asset to all of the county’s citizens,” Sulka said.

The parkway is the lone remaining large-ticket item from the previous sales tax referendum, which voters passed in 2006. However, funding for construction has never been secured. Part of the reason for that, Kubic said, was an economic downturn in 2008 that drastically reduced impact fees the county was able to collect. To that end, Kubic and Sulka said they’d like the realignment to be one of the first projects considered under such a tax if passed.

“The project has been approved by the voters of Beaufort County, and it’s the only one that hasn’t been implemented from last time,” Kubic said. “That’s why it’s appearing now as a joint endorsement of the town and county. We are obligated by law to seek out all potential forms of funding, and this commission is considered a possible source of funding.”

Added Sulka: “If it was the last item from the previous referendum, it makes sense for it to be the first item to receive funding this time around. If that’s the case, we’d be very happy with that. This is the town’s No. 1 priority on this list.”

Still, some commission members expressed reservations about the realignment’s estimated cost.

“$28 million just seems like an unbelievable amount for three miles,” commission vice-chair Scott Richardson of Hilton Head Island said.

Bluffton assistant town manager James Ayers and county traffic engineer Colin Kinton said the high price tag was largely due to anticipated costs of environmental inspection, engineering and design and acquiring the necessary land from SCE&G and Santee Cooper.

Commission chairman Craig Forrest of Sun City questioned whether voters would support a project that hasn’t been delivered on yet.

However, commissioner Jefferey Robinowich of Bluffton said he supported the realignment and future extension.

“The last time we had a major evacuation, Bluffton didn’t have nearly the population it does now,” Robinowich said. “We’ve been blessed, but if something were to hit the way things are now, it would be a real mess. It’ll be a wonderful thing if and when this gets completed.”

Sulka also singled out several May River initiatives totaling about $19 million and a $6 million connector road at Buckwalter Place — the multi-county industrial business park on Buckwalter Parkway — as key potential referendum items for the town.

In addition to the Bluffton Parkway realignment and Phase 6, which would connect the parkway with Interstate 95 at a new exit in Jasper County near Hardeeville, Kinton presented a list of about two dozen county-prioritized projects. Those included several access improvements along U.S. 278, road upgrades and increased pedestrian and bicycle pathways around the county.

The projects presented by Kinton totaled just under $90 million.

The commission will hold its next meeting at 6:30 p.m. May 12 at Whale Branch Early College High School in Seabrook. Another meeting is set for 6:30 p.m. May 19 in the Hilton Head Island Town Council chambers.

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